Beaconsfield council backs gazebo for skateboard park

Beaconsfield Mayor David Pollock has defended spending more than $38,000 on a gazebo installation destined for its recently upgraded skate-park facility.

Last week, council voted 4-1 in favour of awarding a $38,470 contract to Construction P.R.V. Inc. to install the gazebo. Coun. Rhonda Massad was the sole naysayer, stating the amount was too high to accept.

Resident Shirley Baird objected to spending this amount of tax dollars on a gazebo. “This is not a good use of my money,” she said.

She noted council had rejected a $175,000 bid last year on a project that would have added new equipment to the skate park, such as quarter and half-pipes, a gazebo, a water fountain and better lighting, because the price tag was deemed to be over budget.

Pollock pointed out not every kid plays hockey or soccer and that the city invests heavily to maintain fields and ice rinks. He added the skateboard park, located near the recreation centre, is well used and though the price tag seems high, the city had examined its options and this was the best-suited installation.

“We need something that is solid, a metal structure that will withstand stuff,” Pollock said of the gazebo. “There are kids in our city that don’t want to play hockey or go swimming, and they go down there,” he said, adding the gazebo will provide some shelter for the skateboarders. “I wish it would cost less. We looked at different options, but this is the one council decided to go ahead with.”

After council rejected a $175,000 bid for its skate-park overhaul last year, which was about $20,000 above the city’s estimate, it was decided to break up the project into different segments and do some of the minor work in-house.

In July, council, with only Massad objecting, voted to award a $45,140 contract to Techsport Inc. for the supply and installation of new skateboard modules.

This new equipment, which includes a half-pipe, was installed last week, city manager Patrice Boileau said.

Last fall, the city awarded a $21,000 contract to lay down fresh pavement as part of a minor extension of its skateboard park.

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